Tranmere manager Ian Dawes says he is happy with his squad’s pre-season preparations ahead of their opening League Two game at home to Barrow.
That despite just one win and two draws in six friendly games which have included a number of League One sides including Wigan Athletic Fleetwood Town, and Northampton Town.
Dawes told the Tranmere website: “I was happy with the pre-season process; the understanding is getting better, and it looks a lot smoother on the pitch.
“The team behind the team has been working hard over the last year identifying the right players to improve us. One of the big things was getting business done early so we can work with the players, and the Chairman has backed us.
“The balance is better; the senior lads can help the younger players and guide them more. Teams who get promoted, it’s very rare that they have a smooth run, there’s normally dips along the way, and it’s about managing those for the younger lads.
“Every game will be a tough test, there’s so many different styles of play in League Two. They offer different challenges, and we have to manage those challenges, but we focus on us, what we do with the ball and get a positive result at the end of it.
“Luke Norris and Kristian Dennis are in the squad for Saturday. They got minutes against Wigan, and we had an in-house game which helped them. They’re in a good place going into a busy part of the season.
“We’ve got to make sure we do on the pitch what the fans expect us to do – we run, we work hard, we compete, and at the top end of the pitch we give them something to cheer about.”
The only player that Barrow will be without this weekend is Mazeed Ogungbo who suffered a long-term injury against Preston North End last month.
Manager Pete Wild has been happy with the pre-season build-up, although a 5-0 loss to Blackpool was a shock to the system.
He said “It’s been different to last year when we were more or less begging players to come and join us. That was because of how it had been in the two previous years.
“This time we have been able to bring-in a different type of player. In fact people are ringing us and players see Barrow as being a viable option for the next stage of their careers.
“It’s a good mix, too, with some players who are experienced and the finished article while others we know we have to work with and make them the finished article.
“So overall it adds up to the fact that we have some really good footballers and financial assets in the club that will only get better with what we do with them.”
